Fastening for hitching-straps.



Vl 0l FASTBNING FOB HITOHING STRAPS.

APLIGATON FILED PEB. 2, 1909.

927,275. Patented July 6,1909.`

VIRGIL O. PARKER, OF RALEIGH, NO iT-H CAROLINA.

FASTENING FOR HITCHING--STRA 4 Specification of Letters Patent.

"- ratented July e, 190e.

Application filed February 2, 1909. Serial No. 475,648'.

T all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, VinGiL O. PARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Raleigh, in the county of W'ahe and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful linprovenients in Fastenings for Hitching-Straps, of which the following is a speciiication.

rihis invention relates to a fastening for hitching straps and the like; and the primary object of the invention is to provide simple and effective means for holding the loop formed in the hitching strap over a post, tree or other device to which it is applied by ob.- viating slaclening of the loop.

llitching straps as ordinarily applied to securing means become loose and fall and annoy the animal by adj acency to his feet as well as compelling the animal to hold his head low, and frequently aggravation ensues to such an extent as to result in rearing, backing, and pulling, and disarrangement or breakage of harness, particularly if the animal hitched be young and unusually nervous.

rlhe fastening means embodying the fea tures of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of' ordinary hitching straps as just enumerated and also provides for ready manual relaxation and detachment of the strap loop from the post or other device to which it is applied.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully hereinafter specified.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hitching strap showing the iinproved fastening means applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the hitching strap applied. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation ofthe :fastening deviceshowing the hitehing strap in ci-iiss-section and in loose condition therein. Fig. 4t is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the hitching strap secured in the fastening. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken through a post just above the point of application of the bitching strap.

The numeral 5 designates a bitching strap of usual form and having snap hooks 6 and 7 at its terminals to respectively engage a portion of the fastening, which will be presently explained, and. a 1part of the bridle, for instance one Of the it rings.

The fastening 8 comprises sentially an eye 9 and a loop 1() continuiill'om the said The loop 10 is deitinelby opposite bars 1.1 and 12, the bar 11 being1 straight and presenting an inner straight clamping wall 13 and the bar 12 is lirst inclined gradually toward the bar 11 and then abruptly as at lil to provide a biting slot or openingl 15 between the two bars having one wall or the inner portion 16 of the bar 12 shaped as liust explained by bending said bar, which will operate to reliably hold the portion ol' the hitching strap forced thereinto conipression of a part of the strap or the outer edge of the latter and prevent accidental slipping or disengagement of the strap from its'adjusted and secured position within the looplO alter the loop 17 of the hitching strap has been applied around a post, tree or other device. The loop 10 has the opening or slot 15 particularly shaped to practically operate with the ilat opposing sides of the hitching strap, and it is necessary in securing the hitching strap loop to have one wall of the opening or slot in the fastening straight and uninter rupted by any bends in order to establish a fu l contact of one flat side of the strap against the wall to assist in maintaining a reliable clamping action against the opposite side of the strap by the wall 16 having the variable angular convergence with relation to the straight wall 13 of the opening or slot. The opening or slot 15 is eloiigated and the variation in the transverse dimensions is predetermined to adapt the fastening for use with ilat straps of different thicknesses. When the trap has its greater portion located in the eye 9 it is free to be drawn through the latter, or the fastening may be readily shifted to accommodate the diameter of the post or other device about which the loop 17 is to be formed and held. The eye Q also serves as a means for detachably con necting the snap hook 6.

ln applying the hitching strap the loop 17 is produced While the strap is loose within the fastenings 8 or drawn. inward into the eye J and the snap hook 6 is connected to the said eye, as shown by Figs. 2, 4l and 5. The loop is then tightened by drawing the saine through the eye 9 of the fastening and at the same time pushing the said fastening up closely to the hitching postor other device; and as a iinal step the loop is tightly secured by drawing the strap outwardly into the opening or slot 15 of the fastening and causing the outer edge portion of the strap to be lirnuly clamped, as shown by Fig. 4. rThe tension exerted on the loop by drawing on the hitehing strap and securing the latter in the fastening will bring the snap hook 6 in firm contact with the hitching` post or other device and the fastening 8 will at the same time be projected downwardly and in a measure act as a guard to resist any lowering or dropping of the loop over the hitching post, though the tension of the loop 17 of the strap will be suHicient to obstruct displacement thereof. When it is desired to release or loosen the hitching strap the portion thereof engaging the fastening 8 is drawn inwardly until the loop around the post or other device is slackened enough to permit disconnection of the snap hook 6.

The improved fastening is simple in its construction and may be readily produced at a minimum cost.

In its operation the fastening will be found exceptionally advantageous, and its adapta bility for use in connection with bitching straps of various thicknesses owing to the contour of one wall of the opening or slot in the loop thereof is of material importance.

W hat is claimed is:

A hitching strap consisting of a 'flat strap having fastening devices on opposite ends and a loop securing device provided with an eye through which the strap is threaded, the

loo securing device beinO rigid and freel f D D C slidable on the strap and prevented from becoming separated from the latter by the fastening devices on the opposite ends of the strap, the loop securing device being provided, in addition to the eye at one extremity, with a body composed of opposite bars terminally merging and having an opening therebetween continuing into the eye, the one wall of the opening being longitudinally straight and the opposing wall angularly converging iirst gradually and then sharply toward the straight Wall to abruptly contract the opening adjacent to the merged terminals of the bars, the strap being shiftable directly from the eye into the opening in the body of the securing device and held against self-releasing movement by the resistance set up against one flat side thereof by the straight wall and operating relatively to the compression of a portion of the opposite Vflat side of the strap by the angularly converging wall.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VIRGIL O. PARKER.

lVitnesses Jas. O. ALLEN, LILLIAN E. TURNER. 

